I am reaching out to let you know about an upcoming rule change for the 2019 season. As of this year, we will no longer allow drivers to have passengers in the car during hot sessions, even if they are other participants.
The reason for this change is simple- we want to ensure the safety of the drivers in each car. While passengers can be a valuable experience in some cases, the risk caused by distraction is too great. For those of you who have enjoyed riding together for education purposes, I would encourage you to rely on video and data acquisition options for sharing, coaching and on-track improvement. I would also recommend checking out SCCA’s Starting Line Performance Driving School, or another instructional program that relies upon professional in car instruction.
Passengers will still be allowed and encouraged during Touring Laps. You may even find that the slower pace makes it easier to discuss the track and dissect the line through a corner.